Train-pipe connector.



l. V. ROBINSON.

TRAIN PIPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. ran. RENEWED SEPT. 13. 1911.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET. l.

GHoznct J. V. ROBINSON.

TRAIN-PIPE CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.25} 1911. RENEWED'SEPT. 13, 1911.

1,245,773. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS.SHEET 2- a serene ATENT one.

JOSIl'lPH V. ROBINSON, F BRANFOBZD, CONNECTICUT.

TRAIN-PIPE connnc'ron.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. c, 1917.

Application filed March 25, 1911, Serial No. 616,906. Renewed September18, 1917. Serial No. 191,308.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH V. RoBINsoN,

' a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Branford, in the countyof New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certa n new and usefulImprovements in Train- Pipe Connectors, of which the following is aspecification.

' My invention relates to improvements in trainpipe connectors orcouplers, and 1t consists in the constructions, combinatlons, andarrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved trainpipe connectorconstructs ed to connect withcertainty, and to mamtain an efficientconnection, under all service conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a compact and simpletrainpipe connector which will operate with freedom from exlcessivebattering blows and deteriorating binding, or jamming.

A further object of my invention is to provide a compact and simpletrainpipe connector adapted to be applied for efficient operation to allexisting rolling stock.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and inwhich similar reference symbols indicate corresponding parts in theseveral views: Figure l is a side elevation, with parts broken away,illustrating one embodiment of my invention attached to standard draftcoupler; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the connector shown in Fig. 1;Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line Z$-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is anenlarged perspective view of one of the spring-securing plates shown inFig. 8; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the support with a fragment of thespring secured thereto, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates an attaching lug, which may beformed integral with or suitably secured to a standard draft coupler 2,said lug being provided with slots 3 and a head 4 formed with inclinedor tapered shoulders 5.

A connector bracket or support 6 is provided with jaws 7 which areadjustably secured to the lug 1 by bolts 8 extending through the slots 3of the latter, said jaws being preferably rendered resilient by a medialslit 9 and provided with inclined faces offset to engage a notch 12 insaid bracket for positively anchoring said spring against rotation.strong and rigid construction in which the I have shown an exceedinglydogs 13 are secured to the bracket/by bolts 14 and extend over the basespring coil into recesses or radial sockets 15 in a hub or projection 15which extends forwardly from the bracket through the base coil of thespring 12 and within the adjacent free coil thereof, to constitute arest or limiting stop for the latter, thereby efficiently preventinginjurious localization of stresses in the spring.

A connector head 16 i s shown provided with a tubular connection 17extending freely through the flaring socket 11 for connection with theair-brake pipe, and with integral pipe nipples 18 and 19 for connectionwith the signal pipe and steam-heat pipe, respectively. The socket 11,however, constitutes a means for limiting the extent of oscillation ofthe head and its connection 17. The nipples 18 and 19 diverge in acommon plane from the rear face of the head 16 to provide a seat 20 forthe apex coil of the spring 12, said spring being formed of graduallytapered stock and terminating in an offset portion 21 for entering ananchoring recess 22 in the seat 20. Securing plates 23 are bolted at 24:to the head 16 and extend over the apex coil and into a recess 25 in thetubular connection 17 for rigidly securing the spring on the head seat20.

This novel construction and combination its axis and shifting of suchaxis from the I normal connecting position-by a varying retent of suchmovements.

The front face of the head 16 is provided with any usual gaskets 26 forsealing the orifices of the air-brake and usual connections, and with apreferably metallic member 27 surrounding the orifice of the steamheatconnection, said member 27 being provided with a zone-shaped face forrockingly supporting a seat member or annulus 28, which latteris'maintained in position by a spring clip 29. The seat or contactmember 28 can advantageously be formed of brass and is provided with anannular groove for receiving a sealing member, or filler, 30 of zinc orother suitable material having a greater coefficient of expansion andpreferably of a difi'erent degree of hardness, said sealingmernber beingthus confined against all lateral expansion. The sealing member 30extends fiush with the plane face of the contact member 28 to constitutetherewith a compound packing face for insuring an efiicient seal withthe similar packing face of a cooperating head when connected therewith.

The front face of the head is provided with two contact members 31 whichproject in a common plane with said compound packing face, therebygiving a three-point contact between pairs of connected heads andinsuring the maintenance of an veiiicient seal between the cooperatingpacking faces.

The connector head 16 is shown provided with the guides or collectors 32and associated sockets 33 of an approved design which need not befurther described here.

T have illustrated preferred and satisfactory constructions, but changescould be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what T claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Tn an automatic trainpipe coupler, the combination of a coupler head,resilient means for resisting all rotation of the latter about its axisand shifting of such axis from the normal coupling position by a varyingforce increasing in greater progression than the extent of such rotationand shifting, and means for positively limiting the swing of such axis.

2. Tn an automatic train pipe coupler, the combination of a couplerhead, a spring supporting said head, a bracket provided with anextension having a recess, and means spaced approximately an equaldistance apart and embracing the base coil of said spring and clampingthe same rigidly to the support, each dog having positive connectionwith the support on opposite sidesof the portion of the coil embracedthereby.

4t. Tn a device of the character set forth, the combination of a supporthaving an opening and a hub projecting therefrom, a head having a memberextending through said hub, a coiled spring between the head and thesupport and surrounding said hub, and a plurality of dogs interlockedwith the support and the hub and embracing the base coil of the spring.

5. Tn a device of the character set forth, the combination of a supporthaving a hub provided with a plurality of radially disposed sockets, ahead having a member extending into said hub, a coiled spring betweenthe head and the support and whose base coil surrounds said hub, and aplurality of devices rigidly securing the spring in place, each deviceprojecting at one end into 7. Tn a device of the character set forth, l

the combination of a support having an opening surrounded by aprojection having radial sockets, a head having a member extending intosaid opening, a coiled springbetween the head and the support, the basecoil of the spring surrounding said projection, and a set of dogsclamping said base coil to the support, each dog being secured at oneend to the support and at its other end in one of said sockets.

8. The hereindescribed coupler head having a plane face adapted to makebutt connection with a similar-head, said face being provided with aplurality of spaced contact points, one of which comprises an annulus ofhard material having a groove and a filler in said groove normally flushwith said annulus.

9. The hereindescribed coupler head having a plane face adapted to makebutt connection with a similar head, said face being In testimonywhereof I affix my signature provided with a plurality of spaced Contactin presence of two Witnesses.

points one of which comprises an annulus of hard material having agroove and a filler JOSEPH ROBINSON 5 in said groove normally flush withsaid an- Witnesses:

nulus, said filler having a higher coefiicient GEO. L. BEELER,

of expansion than that of the annulus. E. L. HAMPTON.

